Combination opener and pouring device for cans and the like

ABSTRACT

A combination opener and pouring device includes a chamber with a spout and pointed stem extending downwardly therefrom for piercing the can top, a flexible collar being provided to seal the chamber against the can edge. The stem includes a bead portion having opposite flat sides for locking the device in the perforation in the can top and a duct system in the stem communicating with the chamber. A cover for the chamber is rotatable therein to seal the chamber when not in use.

ilnited States Patent 1191 Lenz 1451 May28, 1974 COMBINATION OPENER AND POURING DEVICE FOR CANS AND THE LIKE [22] Filed: Sept. 30, 1970 [21] Appl. No.1 76,770

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 28, 1970 Germany 7011612[U] [52] US. Cl. 222/90 [51] Int. Cl B671) 7/26 Field of Search......... 222/188, 479, 81, 89, 90, 222/569, 570, 563, 546, 90, 8091; 220/40, 82.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,582,035 4/1926 Grundy et a1 222/90 1,611,111 12/1926 Frazier et al 222/90 2,013,361 9/1935 Reynolds 222/90 2,089,575 8/1937 Reed 222/90 2,167,476 7/1939 Diefenbach... 222/546 X 2,468,499 4/1949 LeVasseur 222/90 2,585,801 2/1952 Lieuwen 222/90 2,681,745 6/1954 Sung 61 a1. 222/546 x 3,114,480 12/1963 Sauter 222 90 3,460,715 8/1969 Lane et al 222 90 3,567,058 6/1969 Mascia 222 40 R x 8/1971 Hegi 1. 222/90 Primary Examiner-Stanley I-l. Tollberg Assistant ExaminerNorman L. Stack, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarkva & Smith [57] ABSTRACT A combination opener and pouring device includes a chamber with a spout and pointed stem extending downwardly therefrom for piercing the can top, a flexible collar being provided to seal the chamber against the can edge. The stem includes a bead portion having opposite flat sides for locking the device in the perforation in the can top and a duct system in the stem communicating with the chamber. A cover for the chamber is rotatable therein to seal the chamber when not in use.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures COMBINATION OPENER AND POURING DEVICE FOR CANS AND THE LIKE This invention relates to a can opener and more particularly to a combination can opener and pouring device for dispensing liquids from the opened can.

Combination can openers and pouring devices have been in use for a long time. Most such devices are designed to be used at the time the user intends to immediately remove the contents of the can. Such devices, however, are not suitable where the contents of the can is to be dispensed in small increments from time to time over an extended period, such as over many months. The devices allow access of atmospheric air not only to the contents of the can but to the liquid coated on the pouring spout causing the liquid to dry and cake.

It is an object of the present invention to produce an improved combination can opener and pouring device which when used to pierce the can forms a seal around the opening.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a combination opener and pouring device which once inserted in and secured to the can in sealing relationship permits the device to be open and closed as desired whereby' when the deivce is not in use exposure of the interior of the device to atmospheric air can be avoided.

In accordance with the present invention the combination opener and pouring device includes an opentopped chamber with a pouring spout in one side thereof. A stem extends downwardly from the bottom wall of the chamber with a point at the bottom end therefor for piercing the can top. A flexible collar or skirt is provided around the exterior bottom edge of the chamber which contacts the top edge of the can as the device is pressed downwardly thereby providing a tight seal between the device and the can. A duct extends through the central portion of the stem from the chamber with a pair of holes in the stem wall adjacent the point permitting liquid to flow from the interior of the can into the chamber and for air to simultaneously flow from the chamber into the interior of the can to displace the liquid.

A bead portion on the stem is provided approximately midway between the chamber and the point, the opposite sides of the bead portion being flat. The bead portion serves to enlarge the perforation in the can top as the device is pressed downwardly and serves to lock the device in place on the can by rotating the device approximately 90 after the stem has been fully inserted in the can.

A cover is provided for the chamber which includes a jacket arrangement extending downwardly from the top thereof with slots in opposite sides of the jacket. The jacket fits tightly against the interior wall of the container. One of the slots normally confronts the spout on one side of the container permitting fluid to flow from the container into the spout. Rotation of the cover seals the interior of the container against the inflow of atmospheric air. The chamber also includes a recess in the side opposite the spout which communicates with the other slot in the cover permitting inflow of atmospheric air as liquid is being poured out of the can and the container through the spout. Rotation of the cover serves also to seal the interior of the chamber against atmospheric air entering by way of the recess.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the combination opener and pouring spout;

FIG. 2 is a side view partially in section taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in section taken along the line lII-lll of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the combination opener and pouring spout shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 3; j

FIG. 6 is a side view of a cover for the combination opener and pouring spout shown in FIGS. 1 to 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the cover shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the combination opener and pouring spout with the cover in place; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of the combination opener and pouring spout as applied to a can.

'The combination opener and pouring device comprises a chamber 11 which is generally funnel-shaped and a stem 10 extending downwardly from the bottom of the chamber 11. The chamber 11 is provided with a projecting handle-like rib 12 and a spout 13 opposite the handle 12, the spout providing a convenient channel for pouring liquid from the chamber 11. The bottom end of the stem 10 is tapered forming a point 16 for piercing the top portion of a can. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the tapered portion 17 of the stem 10 extends upwardly merging into a curved bead portion 18. Above the bead portion 18 is a recessed portion 19 and at the very top of the stem 10 the exterior surface is tapered outwardly adjacent to the bottom wall 21 of the chamber 11. Opposite sides of the curved bead portion 18 are flat and are generally parallel as shown in FIG. 1. Each of the flat sides of the stem 10 includes an opening or port 31, both the openings communicating with a longitudinal duct 23 extending upwardly through the stem 10 and in turn communicating with inlet 24 in the bottom wall 21 of chamber 11. Opposite sides of the inlet 24 are tapered in the directions of the spout 13 and the handle 12 to direct the liquid entering the chamber through duct 23 towards the spout 13 and to direct air downwardly through the duct 23.

At the perimeter of the chamber 11 adjacent the bottom wall 21 a collar or sealing lip 14 is provided having a cross-section which is tapered outwardly. The sealing lip is made from a resilient material such that it will provide a tight seal against the edge of a can when the combination opener and pouring device is positioned on the can.

To apply the combination opener and pouring device to a can 50, as shown in FIG. 9, the point 16 of stem 10 is centrally positioned in the can top and the combination opener and pouring device is pressed towards the can causing the point to pierce the can top and the stem 10 to enlarge the perforation as it is fed therethrough into the can. It will be appreciated that the configuration of the stem 10 and particularly the curved bead portion 18 having opposite flat sides will cause the perforation in the can top to have a generally oval shape, the opposite flat sides of the head portion 18 forming the narrow cross-section of the perforation while the surfaces of the curved bead portion itself produce the wider cross-section of the perforation which is transverse to the narrow cross-section.

The combination opener and pouring device is pressed towards the can until the sealing lip 14 is pressed against the peripheral edge of the can. The curved head portion 18 will serve to retain the combination opener and pouring device in position on the can. However, to ensure that it remains in position the combination opener and pouring device may optionally be rotated 90 with respect to the can while in position on the can whereby the surface of the curved bead portion 18 projects beyond the edges of the perforation on the interior side of the can top to lock the stem under the narrow cross-section of the perforation in the can top. Rotation of the combination opener and pouring device is facilitated by the handle 12 and spout 13 which can be easily gripped by the user. The enlarged part of the stem 10 ensures sealing contact between the bottom wall 20 of chamber 11 and the perimeter of the perforation in the can top. With this arrangement, when the can is inclined, liquid flows through one of the openings 31, through duct 23 and inlet 24 into the chamber 11. Openings 31 are provided on opposite sides of the stem 10 to permit air to pass downwardly through the duct 23 and the other of the openings 31 into the interior of the can to displace liquid simultaneously passing through the one opening 31 and upwardly through duct 23 whereby an even flow is maintained during pouring.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a cover shown generally at 26 suitable for use in conjunction with the combination opener and pouring device. The top portion of the cover 26 comprises a generally thick wall, the upper surface 27 of which is convex to facilitate the application of force required to introduce stem 10 into the can top by pressing the upper surface of the cover with the ball of the thumb.

Extending downwardly from the underside of the top wall of the cover is a jacket 28 which is adapted to fit securely against the interior wall of chamber 11, the jacket extending to nearly the bottom of the container. The jacket is provided with slots 29 and 30 on the opposite sides thereof, slot 29 which is designed to face the spout 13 during use being wider than the opposite slot 30. The top edge of the chamber 11 includes a bead for reinforcemenet purposes, the bead having a recess 22. The slot in jacket 28 permits air entering through recess 22 to be conducted downwardly into the chamber 11 towards duct 23.

The cover 26 is designed to be rotated in chamber 11 and this may be facilitated by incorporating corrugations along the perimeter of the cover 26. To limit rotation of the cover, a projection 31 is provided on the interior surface of the wall of chamber 11. The projection 31 extends into slot 29 in jacket 28 whereby rotation of the cover 26 is limited. Rotation of the cover to the limit in one direction results in the chamber 11 being closed while rotation to the limit in the other direction opens the chamber 11 permitting pouring. Both the mouthpiece l3 and the recess 22 for admission of air are opened and closed by the rotational movement of the cover 26. With both of the openings closed, the contents of the can and the chamber 11 are sealed against the outside air.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as designated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination opener and pouring device for cans containing a liquid comprising a. a chamber having a generally cylindrical sidewall and a bottom wall, said cylindrical sidewall including a pouring spout extending angularly from the cylindrical perimeter thereof, said bottom wall having an inlet aperture substantially centrally located with respect to said chamber, said inlet aperture in said bottom wall being a narrow elongated aperture extnding from the center of the bottom wall towards said pouring spout and in the opposite direction,

b. a stern extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom wall about the inlet aperture in the bottom wall, said stem including a terminal portion which is conical and tapered leading to a centrally located point at the end thereof for piercing a can top and an intermediate portion between said bottom wall and said terminal portion, said intermediate portion having a pair of substantially flat parallel surfaces on opposite sides thereof, with each of the opposite surfaces extending between the edges of said flat surfaces including a convex arcuate portion adjacent said terminal portion and a concave recessed portion between said convex arcuate portion and said bottom wall, said concave recessed portion tapering radially into said bottom wall,

0. passage means in said stem comprising a pair of ports in the opposite sides of said terminal portion of said stem, and a longitudinal passage extending between said ports and said inlet aperture in the bottom wall, the cross-section of said longitudinal passage in said stem being tapered between said ports and said inlet aperture to conform with the configuration of said inlet aperture and said ports being aligned parallel to said narrow elongated aperture in said bottom wall, and

d. an annular resilient skirt integral with the chamber and projecting at an acute angle with respect to the axis of said stem a spaced distance about said stem,

the free edge of said skirt extending beyond a plane passing through said concave recessed portions on-j opposite sides of said stem,

e. whereby when pressure is applied to the chamber to cause the pointed stem to pierce a can top, slippage of the point on the can surface is avoided due to the central location on the stem and point, and said resilient skirt engages and is compressed against the surface of said can when said stem is substantially fully inserted to create a seal between the device and the can, the stem producing a generally rectangular aperture during insertion of the stem and the portions of the can top defining opposite sides of the aperture and pressed apart by the convex arcuate portions of the stem during insertion springing back and settling in said concave recessed portions to frictionally retain said stem against the pressure applied by said resilient skirt to the can surface tending to withdraw said stem from the can, and when said can and device are tilted to pour liquid, the liquid is directed through one of said ports, the longitudinal passage into the chamber and from the pouring spout while air is directed from the chamber through the longitudinal jacket extending downwardly from said top plate along the interior of the wall of said chamber, said cover being rotatable on said chamber between open and closed positions, said jacket including slots in opposite sides thereof, one of said slots communicating with the pouring spout and the other slot communicating with said groove when said cover is in said open position, communication between the interior of said chamber and both said spout and said groove during passage being cut off by said jacket when said cover is in said closed position. 

1. A combination opener and pouring device for cans containing a liquid comprising a. a chamber having a generally cylindrical sidewall and a bottom wall, said cylindrical sidewall including a pouring spout extending angularly from the cylindrical perimeter thereof, said bottom wall having an inlet aperture substantially centrally located with respect to said chamber, said inlet aperture in said bottom wall being a narrow elongated aperture extnding from the centeR of the bottom wall towards said pouring spout and in the opposite direction, b. a stem extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom wall about the inlet aperture in the bottom wall, said stem including a terminal portion which is conical and tapered leading to a centrally located point at the end thereof for piercing a can top and an intermediate portion between said bottom wall and said terminal portion, said intermediate portion having a pair of substantially flat parallel surfaces on opposite sides thereof, with each of the opposite surfaces extending between the edges of said flat surfaces including a convex arcuate portion adjacent said terminal portion and a concave recessed portion between said convex arcuate portion and said bottom wall, said concave recessed portion tapering radially into said bottom wall, c. passage means in said stem comprising a pair of ports in the opposite sides of said terminal portion of said stem, and a longitudinal passage extending between said ports and said inlet aperture in the bottom wall, the cross-section of said longitudinal passage in said stem being tapered between said ports and said inlet aperture to conform with the configuration of said inlet aperture and said ports being aligned parallel to said narrow elongated aperture in said bottom wall, and d. an annular resilient skirt integral with the chamber and projecting at an acute angle with respect to the axis of said stem a spaced distance about said stem, the free edge of said skirt extending beyond a plane passing through said concave recessed portions on opposite sides of said stem, e. whereby when pressure is applied to the chamber to cause the pointed stem to pierce a can top, slippage of the point on the can surface is avoided due to the central location on the stem and point, and said resilient skirt engages and is compressed against the surface of said can when said stem is substantially fully inserted to create a seal between the device and the can, the stem producing a generally rectangular aperture during insertion of the stem and the portions of the can top defining opposite sides of the aperture and pressed apart by the convex arcuate portions of the stem during insertion springing back and settling in said concave recessed portions to frictionally retain said stem against the pressure applied by said resilient skirt to the can surface tending to withdraw said stem from the can, and when said can and device are tilted to pour liquid, the liquid is directed through one of said ports, the longitudinal passage into the chamber and from the pouring spout while air is directed from the chamber through the longitudinal passage and opposite port into the can to displace the liquid in the can.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top edge of the side wall of said chamber terminates in a continuous bead, said bead having a transverse groove therein opposite said spout to permit entry of air to displace liquid poured from said container through said chamber, said device further comprising a cover from said chamber, said cover including a top plate covering the opening in the top of said chamber and an annular jacket extending downwardly from said top plate along the interior of the wall of said chamber, said cover being rotatable on said chamber between open and closed positions, said jacket including slots in opposite sides thereof, one of said slots communicating with the pouring spout and the other slot communicating with said groove when said cover is in said open position, communication between the interior of said chamber and both said spout and said groove during passage being cut off by said jacket when said cover is in said closed position. 